Cable terminal for batteries



`fune 26, 1928. 1,674,799

is. E. RICHARDSON CABLE TEMINAL FOR BATTERIES Filed March 16, 1926 ATToeA/.GK

Patented .lune 2%, 1323.

srras naar. n. :aroirrimnsonJ on Quincy, Immers.

CABLE TERMINAL'EOR BATTERTES.

Application filed Marjon ie, 192e. serial No, 95,004.

'My cable terminals for batteries, gand has for its primary object a. cable terminal intended primarily for storage batteries which can be readily attached to `and removed from the post .of a storage battery.

A further object is ,to .construct a cable terminal for storage batteries in which a wedging action is Iemployed-to secure the terminal to a battery post, the ltermina-l itself being loosely tted vover the post so that it will not become cemented vthereon by corrosion.

A still further object lis to construct a cable terminal for storage batteries which can be readily attached and detached to the posts of the battery and in which `no springing of the terminal is necessary in order to release it from the posts. V

1n the drawings:V l

Fig. 1 is a fragmental view of a` storage battery with my device in position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of ,the same takenon the line 2-2 of F ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view viewing the same in the direction ofthe arrow 3- of IFigy2;

Fig. 4c is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and Y l Fig. 5 is an end view of a modiied form of terminal yoke. l f

1n the construction of mydevice represents a battery bex and 7` oneof the battery posts. As is well known each storage battery has posts, one being positive. However as these posts are of identical const-ructiomthey will not be described in detail. Surrounding the post 7 is a yoke 8 whichA is provided with a cylindrical or elongated opening 9 designed to fit around the post 7 This opening 9, however, is of a larger diameter than the postv 7 so that it will readily t thereon. The opening 9 extends in a vertical direction, and at right angles to the opening 9 is an opening 10, which is preferably rectangular and which is spaced apart from the opening 9. The opening 10 is provided in its side adjacent the opening 9 with a slot or passageway 1.1 in which the wedge member 12 formed integral' with one side of the terminal 13 is adapted to tit. This passageway or slot is so arranged that thev post 7 will project therein (see Fig. 2) so that the wedge tongue or key 12 may contact therewith. An electric cable 14 is secured in the terminal. in any Well-known manner. The

invention relates to improvements inv negativethe other terminal 13 is also provided with a screw :threaded bore 15.to receive the screw 16 by means of which the wedge canbe drawn inward so that it will tightly bindfagains-t-the ost 7. The screw 16 is provided with the usual head Y17 which is flanged so that the terminal 13 canlbe pulled into the socketkor Yopening 10 when the screw is tightened thus causing the wedge 12 to bind'tightly against the post 7 and hold it in position` against the post. The reason for having the opening 9 'larger than the post 7 is to permit the ,wedge mon practice today. Neither is it' necessaryl to use any tools, suchas screw driversor the like toloosen the terminals, as is now lemployed where clamping yokes aresecured to the posts for thereason `that the opening in the yoke is so large that `it is practically impossible for it to become tightly corroded to the post.-V

It is, of course, to'be VVunderstood that the terminal 13 before being inserted in the yoke is properly coated with grease as isnowthe common practice.

The method of applying my terminal to a battery `post is as follows:

The yoke 8 is first greased, both in the bore 9 and in the opening 10, the terminal 13 is also properly greased on its outer surface and is then inserted in the yoke with the tongue 12 in the slot or passageway 11. The screw 16 is then inserted in the screw threaded bore 16 and tightened. This draws the terminal 13 into the yoke and in so doing the wedge 12 contacts with the post 7 and rides thereon forcing the opposite end of the terminal against the wall 18 of the yoke. This wall resisting any farther outward movement of the terminal from the post causes the wedge 12 to bind tightly against the post thus assuring a tight firm contact. In removing the terminal all that is necessary is to unscrew or loosen the screw 16 a few turns and` tap it with a hammer, driving it backward thus loosening the wedge 12 from the post, after which both yoke 8 and terminal 13 can be readily lifted crow-s foot to the plates.

from the post. This is due to the fact that the opening 9 is ot considerably larger diameter than the post itself so that there are virtually two small points at which corrosion can cement the contacting faces tightly together as any corrosion in the remainder of the opening 9 will be relatively loose sothat there will be absolutely no danger of twisting oil the post.

In batteries as heretofore constructed` the yoke, which surrounded the post, fitted tightly thereto and any' corrosion, which might occur between the surfaces of the yoke and post, only tended to tighten the yoke all the more so that-*when an attempt was made to remove the yoke` it frequently vresulted in twisting off'thebattery post, making it necessary torebuild the battery or at least tear it apartandv secure a new This operation was almostas expensive as rebuilding the battery as it necessitated tearing the entire device down. With my structure, all oi this is eliminated because as soon as the terminal is removed from the yoke, the yoke is iree to play on the post thus obviating all danger of it twisting oii the post and it takes only a slight movement or" the wedge 12 to releaserthe yoke kcompletely `from the post.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modi'tied form ofi yoke in which the under-surface 19 is made flat. Thispermits my device'to be easily applied to batteries which have short postsso that .itis not necessary to have a peculiar or particular construction oi post to receive my terminal, and terminal yoke. Furthermore in the construction of my devic`e5`y it is preferred that the'posts 7 be cylindrical rather than tapered since less pressure is' required to keep the yoke and terminal in position and there is absolutely no possibility oi jolting, moving the terminal yoke upward and ycausing it r*to become accidentally disconnected from the post. In fact by the wedge oi my device a flattened place will be formed in the post leaving the material above it projecting outward and above the wedge 12 thus further ond mentioned opening, said wedge shaped member adapted to iit in said passageway and extendV into the first mentioned opening whereby said yoke can be secured to a battery post located in the iirst mentioned opening.

2. A batteryterminal comprising. a Yyoke having a vertical elongated opening and a horizontal rectangular opening vformed therethrough, a. passageway Vformed. in ther horizontal opening intermediateits top and bottom edges and intersecting said vertical opening, a rectangular plug adapted to fit in said horizontal opening, a wedge formed integral with said plug and'adapted-,to eX tend into said vertical opening7 and'means screw seated in said plug for drawing the same into said horizontal opening thereby causing said wedge to tightly bind against the terminal post of 'a battery extending through thevertical opening.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

naar; n. nicnaanson. 

